Read more about how to use a colon and examples of when to use a semicolon so you can make your writing more clear and efficient. More Rules for Colon Useīesides capitalization, there are several other rules that regulate colon usage. It rained for one week straight: The residents of the village stayed locked in their homes.Īccording to MLA format, the first letter following a colon should be capitalized if the colon introduces:ĭownload our Capitalization after Colons Cheat Sheet for quick reference so you can write more efficiently.The room was completely bare: Aside from a single chair, there was nothing else inside.The colon introduces a complete sentence.The first word after the colon is a proper noun (see first example above).The guide mandates that a capital letter follow a colon only in 2 circumstances: Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises begins with an abrupt introduction to a key supporting character: “Robert Cohn was once middleweight boxing champion of Princeton.”Ĭapitalization after a colon is a bit simpler if you’re following the rules of APA Style.She also had to drink carbonated water with every meal. The table below provides formatting directions and examples: Independence of source. part of a greater whole) and (b) the location of the title (in the text of the paper vs. Karen had very peculiar eating habits: She refused to eat anything green. The formatting of the titles of sources you use in your paper depends on two factors: (a) the independence of the source (stands alone vs.He knew one thing for sure: Sharon had always stayed by his side, even in the most difficult of situations.The colon introduces speech in dialogue, a quotation, or a question.The colon introduces 2 or more sentences.The first word after the colon is a proper noun.Chicago Manual of StyleĪccording to the Chicago Manual of Style, the first letter after a colon should be capitalized in the following cases: The word Keywords is italicized, followed by a colon mark, and is left. In American English, however, there are several cases in which a letter should be capitalized after a colon. The title in an APA format research paper is center aligned at the top of the. ![]() In British English, the first letter following a colon is only capitalized if it the word is a proper noun or an acronym. According to some style guides, you may capitalize the first letter following a colon if the colon introduces a complete sentence.When a colon introduces an incomplete sentence, do not capitalize the first letter unless it is a proper noun.Do not capitalize after a colon if you’re introducing a list.However, there are some general guidelines that are universal regarding capitalization after a colon: The rules for capitalization will vary depending on which style guide you use. However, you can use our simplified guide below to help you spend less time Googling and more time writing. The rules for colons vary slightly based on which style guide you prefer. ![]() One of the most common conundrums writers come across in their work is the question of whether or not to capitalize the first word following a colon.
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